According to Chris Matthews, the radically pro-abortion Kathleen Sebelius has "done more to reduce the number of unwanted pregnancies than anyone in this country." Matthews assailed pro-life demonstrators who approve of "dictatorial laws" to reduce abortion. According to him, these protesters need to give the woman, who has made birth control "free," a "little credit."
The Hardball anchor on Thursday insisted that Sebelius, who as Kansas governor vetoed a partial birth abortion bill and entertained radical doctor George Tiller at the official residence, is a hero. Matthews praised, "It could be argued that this one person has done more to reduce the number of unwanted pregnancies than anyone in our country." [See video below. MP3 audio here.]
Explaining this assertion, Matthews failed to grasp basic economics: "Making birth control free, which is what she has done, will do more to reduce unwanted pregnancies than anything I can imagine."
Making birth control "free" does not make it without cost. It still has to be paid for by someone.
Matthews assailed those who oppose Sebelius speaking at Georgetown University, Friday. He lectured pro-lifers: "This is how we do things in a free society that values life, not with dictatorial laws, but with persuasion."
The MSNBC host attempted to speak on abortion as a practicing Catholic. Previously, Matthews mocked Catholicism as a religion that attracts bigots.
A transcript of the May 17 segment, which aired at 5:57pm EDT, follows:
CHRIS MATTHEWS: Let me finish tonight with this. It's a subtle, for me, recommendation to those protesting the appearance tomorrow by HHS Secretary Kathleen Sebelius at Georgetown University. You oppose her speaking because of her position in support of abortion rights. So, let me propose a thought to you, who like me, value life. Will protesting the secretary's appearance radically reduce the millions of abortions in this country each year? Will it reduce by one? Well, what would? What practical, workable step would radically reduce the number of abortions in this free country of ours? I would suggest that it is reducing the number of unwanted pregnancies. Get the young men having sex with young women to stop having unwanted pregnancies. Stop protesting government officials and start talking to the people actually involved in having these millions of unwanted pregnancies. Tell them, get the word to them as parents, teachers, loved ones that if they're going to have sex, and that's a decision they ought to accept moral responsibility for, please use birth control. Just stop having unwanted pregnancies. This is how we do things in a free society that values life, not with dictatorial laws, but with persuasion. I say this as someone that accepts the moral teaching of my church, but also as someone who accepts the practical need here for effective action, not more protests.
And now a word about Secretary Sebelius. It could be argued that this one person has done more to reduce the number of unwanted pregnancies than anyone in our country. She's behind the policy of requiring insurance companies to cover birth control. Making birth control free, which is what she has done, will do more to reduce unwanted pregnancies than anything I can imagine. Certainly getting people to stop having sex is another way. Her way will, I bet, have a more dramatic result. It could actually work. I know what the protesters believe, they believe they can stop abortion by protest, by rallies, by stopping people from speaking at graduation ceremonies. Common sense tells me that the way to stop unwanted pregnancies and abortions is not in a graduation ceremony, but on what we used to call dates. It's when a young man and woman are together. We can argue against them having sex, we can also suggest that when relationships become close and respectful, birth control is far better than an unwanted pregnancy. So, here in my role as a secular adviser, I suggest those of us that think that this country would be better off with radically fewer abortions actually begin doing something about it. Kathleen Sebelius deserves credit. Again. Again. It could certainly be argued for her doing her part. Rather than protesting what she's doing, pro-lifers and pro-choicers might think about giving her a little credit, or at least let her speak.
